Summary
In Regret, Kate Chopin presents a protagonist, Mamzelle Aurelle, who, despite her old age (50 years), is still single. Mamzelle has never been married or fallen in love, and does not seem to think of marriage even in her old age. However, she enjoys the company of her dog and Negro workers. In one instance, Odile, Mamzelle’s neighbor, goes to attend to her ailing mother, leaving Mamzelle with her four children. Since she has never given birth, Mamzelle has never taken care of children. She faces extreme difficulties and complains about watching the youngest of the four. Mamzelle is not shy about communicating how disgusted she is about the children to Aunt Ruby, her cook. As time progresses, Mamzelle realizes that she actually loves being with the children and feels sad and empty when Odile comes back to take them. She breaks down and wails so hard that she does not realize her dog licking her hands.
Desiree’s Baby features Desiree, an adopted daughter of a wealthy and influential French Creole family of the Valmonde’s. Armand, a son of another prominent French Creole family, courts Desiree, with whom they marry and sire a baby. The baby is interracial, and people clearly note and comment about the difference. The fact that Desiree’s parents are unknown and the color of the baby throws Armand into a fit of rage because he assumes that she is black. Armand develops scorn for Desiree, throws her out of the house, burns all her belongings, courtship letters, and even the cradle of their baby. However, in the bundle of letters, Armand discovers one that reveals he is half black in accordance with the ancestry of his mother. Kate Chopin fails to define the ancestry of Desiree explicitly.